Photoconductive properties of some chemically deposited (Cd-Pb)S films

Films of (Cd-Pb)S have been prepared using chemical deposition in aqueous alkaline bath and their subsequent condensation on substrates. Important achievements in terms of electrical response, optical absorption and photoconductivity (PC) excitation spectra, SEM, XRD and photoluminescence (PL) studies are presented and discussed. From the photocurrent curves, the ratio I _PC (saturated photocurrent)/I _DC (dark current) was observed to be of the order of 10⁶ for the systems prepared with CdCl₂, and to be 10⁷ when doped with samarium nitrate. Values of trap depth E, lifetime and mobility are evaluated from the PC decay. Band gaps are determined from the two spectra. Diffraction lines in XRD studies are associated with CdS and PbS, and according to SEM studies, layered growth of the films takes place. PL of samarium-doped (Cd-Pb)S films shows an emission peak in the green-yellow region under 365-nm excitation. The PL brightness decreases with temperature.